UNIVERSITY    OF    CALIFORNIA 

COLLEGE    OF    AGRICULTURE 

AGRICULTURAL    EXPERIMENT   STATION 

BERKELEY,    CALIFORNIA 


CIRCULAR  309 

February,  1927 

FRUIT  TREE  AND  ORCHARD  JUDGING 

WILLIS  P.  DUEUZi 


Judging  fruit  trees  and  orchards  by  means  of  a  score  card  is  a  new 
practice  which  is  becoming  popular  as  a  part  of  the  agricultural 
instruction  in  California.  The  recent  development  of  college  and  high 
school  judging  contests  in  which  many  students  participate,  promises 
not  only  to  increase  their  interest  in  fruit  growing  but  to  be  an 
important  factor  in  the  future  improvement  of  orchards. 

Horticultural  teachers  and  others  who  have  served  as  judges  at 
fruit  shows  have  been  keenly  aware  of  the  fact  that  a  mere  display  of 
fruit  alone  does  not  supply  conclusive  evidence  that  the  owner  is  a 
good  orchardist.  The  trees,  though,  as  they  stand  in  the  orchard 
speak  for  themselves,  particularly  if  they  are  judged  at  a  time  when 
they  are  fruiting;  even  in  winter  the  trees  bear  visible  evidence  of 
their  probable  fruitfulness. 

The  value  of  individual  trees  and  also  of  orchards,  may  be  deter- 
mined in  two  ways :  first,  by  records  of  production2  and  second,  by 
appearance.  The  first  method  is  the  more  satisfactory,  but  if  the 
observer  is  a  good  judge  of  trees  and  of  environmental  conditions, 
he  can  determine  in  large  measure,  by  appearance  alone,  their  fruit 
bearing  possibilities.  Trees  or  orchards  being  evaluated  by  appear- 
ance, are  judged  primarily  on  their  present  condition  rather  than  on 
their  past  record  or  future  possibilities. 


1  Assistant  Pomologist  in  the  Experiment  Station. 

2  Hodgson,    R.   W.     Analyzing   the   citrus   orchard   by   means    of   simple   tree 
records.     California  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Cir.  266:  1-20.     1923. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 


TREE  JUDGING 

An  interest  in  horticulture  and  a  special  liking  for  fruit  grow- 
ing are  desirable  in  one  who  wishes  to  become  proficient  in  tree  judg- 
ing. To  become  a  good  judge  one  should  first  make  a  careful  study 
of  the  various  factors  that  enter  into  the  make-up  of  a  perfect  fruit 
tree.  A  mental  picture  of  an  ideal  of  this  kind  is  very  necessary. 
The  next  step  is  to  train  the  eye  properly  to  weigh  or  evaluate  the 
various  factors  as  presented  by  the  trees  being  judged  in  order  to 
estimate  their  deficiencies,  if  any,  as  compared  with  the  mental  picture 
of  the  ideal  tree. 

SCORE  CARD  FOR  FRUIT  TREES 

The  value  of  judging  is  based  upon  the  fact  that  there  is  a  corre- 
lation between  the  appearance  of  fruit  trees  as  regards  their  size, 
framework,  character  of  the  pruning  they  have  had,  vigor,  health, 
and  their  ability  to  produce  fruit  over  a  long  period  of  years.  As  a 
result  of  experience  with  trees,  a  score  card  has  been  formulated 
which  assigns  a  numerical  value  to  each  of  the  important  factors  that 
constitute  a  good  fruit  tree.  Each  factor  is  given  a  value  that  is  in 
accord  with  its  importance.  The  score  card,  therefore,  reveals  the 
relative  importance  of  the  different  factors  in  a  manner  that  greatly 
aids  in  evaluating  a  collection  of  trees  and  arriving  at  a  conclusion 
as  to  whether  one  tree  is  superior  to  another  and  how  much  any  or  all 
of  them  may  fall  short  of  the  ideal. 

The  accompanying  score  card  (Form  A)  has  been  prepared  and 
used  in  colleges  and  high  schools  during  the  past  three  years.  It 
lists  and  describes  six  factors,  or  points,  that  must  be  considered  in 
judging  fruit  trees. 

Each  factor  given  in  the  score  card  is  described  below  and  its 
relation  to  the  tree  as  a  whole  is  discussed. 

Size:  The  size  of  a  tree  is  correlated  with  its  production;  other 
conditions  being  equal,  a  large  tree  will  produce  a  larger  crop  of  fruit 
than  a  small  tree.  Size  is  measured  by  height  and  spread  of  branches 
and  by  circumference  of  the  trunk  2  to  3  inches  above  the  ground. 
Tufts3  and  other  experimenters  have  shown  that  the  circumference 
of  the  trunk  is  a  fair  indication  of  the  total  development  of  the  tree, 
including  top  and  root  system. 


3  Tufts,  W.  P.     Pruning  young  deciduous  fruit  trees.     California  Agr.  Exp. 
Sta.  Bui.  313:  115-116.     1919. 


Circ.  309] 


FRUIT    TREE   AND    ORCHARD    JUDGING 


TEEE  SCOEE  CAED 


Factors 

Values 

Bearing 
trees 

Non-bearing 
trees  ( 1-4  yrs„) 

1. 

Size: 

a.  Height  of  tree 

b.  Spread  of  branches 

15 
>      15 

■      15 

[      15 

20 

> 

20 

15 

c.    Circumference  of  trunk 

2. 

Framework: 

a.   Number  of  primary  scaffolds — 3  to  4  

b.  Height  of  primary  scaffolds — 24  to  30  inches  from 
ground 

c.  Distribution — 6  to  10  inches  apart 

d.  Number  ot  secondary  scaffolds — 5  to  7 

e.  Height  of  secondary  scaffolds — 3  to  5  feet  from  the 

ground 

20 

f.    General  symmetry  of  tree — vase-shaped  or  modi- 
fied leader  type     

3. 

Pruning: 

a.  System  should  be  in  accord  with  length  growth — 
severe,  moderate  or  light 

b.  Fruiting  wood  evenly  distributed 

c.  Interfering  branches  and  dead  wood  removed 

d.  Pruning  cuts  properly  made  and  treated 

A. 

Vigor: 

a.  Dark  green  and  large  leaves 

b.  Sufficient  new  wood  past  season 

25 

c.   New  wood  in  good  condition — not  spindling 

5. 

Fruitpulness: 

• 

a.  Amount  and  condition  of  fruiting  wood 

b.  Amount  and  condition  of  fruit  buds,  blossoms  or 
fruit 

c.   Yield — amoimt  and  quality 

6. 

Health: 

a.  Fimgous  or  bacterial  diseases 

b.  Insect  pests 

c.   Physiological  diseases 

40 

d.  Mechanical  injury 

e.   Sunburn 

f.    Frost  injury 

Total 

100 

100 

Forpi  A 


4  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 

Framework:  The  framework  of  a  fruit  tree  must  be  strong  enough 
to  support  maximum  crops  and  properly  shaped  for  convenience  and 
economy  in  orchard  management.  The  framework  includes  the  trunk 
and  primary  scaffolds,  also  the  secondary  scaffolds  and  other  large 
limbs  throughout  the  tree,  which  arise  from  the  secondary  scaffolds. 

The  height  of  head  should  preferably  be  from  24  to  30  inches  from 
the  ground,  for  it  is  generally  conceded  that  a  low-headed  tree  is  less 
subject  to  sunburn  and  breakage  from  winds  than  a  high-headed  tree. 
Furthermore,  low-headed  trees  are  more  economical  to  manage.  If 
the  primary  scaffold  branches  originate  4  to  5  feet  from  the  ground, 
the  cost  of  such  cultural  practices  as  pruning  thinning  and  harvesting 
is  materially  increased. 

The  strength  of  the  crotch  has  been  shown  to  be  dependent  upon 
the  angle  formed  by  the  branch  with  the  trunk  and  the  size  (diameter) 
of  the  branch  as  compared  with  the  trunk  or  branch  to  which  it  is 
attached.4  The  wider  the  angle  the  more  strongly  the  tissue  is  knit 
about  the  union,  while  the  smaller  the  angle  the  weaker  the  union. 
Crotches  with  equal  branches  split  more  quickly  than  those  with 
unequal  branches. 

It  is  generally  agreed  that  an  ideal  framework  should  consist  of 
three  primary  scaffold  branches  equally  spaced  up  and  down  the  trunk 
from  6  to  10  inches  apart,  and  pruned  in  such  a  way  as  to  produce 

5  to  7  well  spaced  secondary  branches  about  4  to  5  feet  from  the 
ground.  The  other  lateral  branches  should  be  symmetrically  arranged 
about  the  scaffolds  (fig.  1). 

Pruning:  Pruning  a  tree  influences  its  functions  and  activities  by 
making  it  either  vegetatively  vigorous  or  fruitful,  or  both.5  It  has 
been  demonstrated  many  times  that  severe  pruning  usually  results  in 
rank  vegetative  growth  and  retards  or  decreases  fruitfulness.6  On 
the  other  hand,  little  or  no  pruning  results  in  a  small  amount  of  new 
wood  growth,  and  in  bearing  trees,  a  tendency  towards  over-fruitful- 
ness;  and  if  this  practice  is  continued,  a  condition  is  brought  about 
in  which  the  tree  makes  neither  wood  nor  fruit.  Between  these  two 
extremes,  there  is  the  moderate  method  of  pruning  which  results  in 
both  fruitfulness  and  sufficient  new  wood  growth  to  insure  a  succession 
of  crops,  provided  other  factors  such  as  soil,  moisture,  and  climate 
are  favorable. 

4  MacDaniels,  L.  H.  The  apple  tree  crotch.  Cornell  (New  York)  Agr.  Exp. 
Sta.  Bui.  419:  1-22.     1923. 

5  Kraus,  E.  J.,  and  H.  E.  Kraybill.  Vegetation  and  reproduction  with  special 
reference  to  the  tomato.     Oregon  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bui.  149:    1-90.     1918. 

6  Tufts,  W.  P.,  Pruning  bearing  deciduous  fruit  trees.  California  Agr.  Exp. 
Sta.  Bui.  386:   1-47.     1925. 


Circ.  309] 


FRUIT    TREE   AND    ORCHARD    JUDGING 


Not  only  the  type  of  pruning,  whether  severe,  moderate,  or  light, 
but  also  the  actual  manner  in  which  it  is  executed  is  considered.  All 
dead  or  interfering  branches  should  be  removed.  The  form  of  the 
tree  should  be  maintained  so  as  to  allow  sufficient  light  to  all  parts  to 
obtain  the  best  distribution  of  fruit  buds.  The  fruiting  wood  should 
be  properly  distributed  up  and  down  the  branches  and  the  preserva- 
tion of  hanging  twigs    ("hangers")    should  be   especially   favored. 


Fig.  1. — An  ideal  deciduous  fruit  tree.     Note  the  height  and  distribution  of 
the  primary  and  secondary  scaffold  branches.     (After  Tufts.) 


Attention  should  be  given  to  the  manner  in  which  the  pruning  cuts 
have  been  made.  All  cuts  should  be  made  close  to  the  limb  from 
which  the  branch  is  taken  and  should  be  left  smooth  in  order  to 
facilitate  healing.  Shoulder  cuts  which  may  result  in  splitting  of  a 
branch  with  the  grain  should  be  avoided  whenever  possible.  Vertical 
cuts  always  heal  better  than  horizontal  cuts.  Very  large  cuts — 2 
inches  or  more  in  diameter — should  be  painted  with  some  sort  of 
protective  paint  or  dressing. 


6  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 

Vigor:  Vigor  is  usually  recognized  as  the  strength  or  force  ex- 
hibited by  the  tree  in  producing  new  vegetative  growth.  It  is  well 
known  that  trees  vary  greatly  in  this  regard,  depending  upon  variety, 
rootstock,  soil,  irrigation,  pruning,  fruitfulness,  and  other  conditions. 

The  indications  of  vigor  are  usually  the  amount  and  condition  of 
new  wood  produced  the  previous  season,  as  well  as  the  color  of  the 
leaves.  Leaves  which  are  large,  thick,  and  dark-green  in  color  indicate 
a  vigorous  condition  as  contrasted  with  the  small,  thin,  or  yellowish 
leaves  usually  associated  with  weak  trees.  The  amount  of  new  wood 
necessary  to  maintain  fruitfulness  depends  upon  the  species,  but  in 
general,  those  trees  which  bear  their  fruit  mostly  on  one-year  wood 
should  produce  each  year  greater  total  length  growth  than  those  which 
bear  most  of  the  crop  on  older  wood  or  spurs.  Table  1  will  serve  as 
a  guide  in  judging  vigor  of  different  kinds  and  ages  of  trees. 

TABLE  1 

Desirable  Amounts  of  New  Growth  Annually  tor  Bearing  Trees* 


Fruits 

Peaches 

Apricots 

Plums  (excepting  prunes)  and  quinces 

Almonds,  prunes,  apples,  pears,  cherries.. 

*  From  California  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bui.  386.    1925 


Under  10  years  of  age 


Over  10  years  of  age 


20  to  40  inches 

12  to  30  inches 

10  to  24  inches 

9  to  18  inches 


12  to  30  inches 

10  to  24  inches 

9  to  18  inches 

6  to  10  inches 


Fruitfulness:  By  fruitfulness  is  meant  the  outlook  or  prospects  for 
a  crop  the  coming  or  the  same  season.  This  factor  may  be  judged 
at  almost  any  time  of  the  year;  for  example,  in  the  autumn  or  winter 
by  the  amount  and  condition  of  fruit  buds,  in  the  early  spring  by  the 
number  of  blossoms,  and  in  the  summer  by  the  amount  of  fruit 
actually  on  the  trees.  In  judging  this  point  one  should  note  the  entire 
fruiting  area  in  regard  to  the  amount,  distribution,  and  condition 
of  the  fruiting  wood,  including  spurs.  Finally,  the  actual  yield  per 
tree  in  quantity  and  quality  is  the  most  important  measure  of  fruit- 
fulness. In  most  cases,  however,  the  deciduous  fruit  grower  does  not 
keep  individual  tree  records  and,  therefore,  fruitfulness  is  usually 
estimated  when  the  crop  is  on  the  tree. 

Health:  Only  a  tree  which  is  healthy  can  be  expected  to  produce 
fruit  year  after  year.  Before  one  can  know  that  a  tree  is  unhealthy, 
he  must  be  able  to  recognize  the  symptoms  of  disease  and  insect  injury. 


ClRC.  309]  FRUIT   TREE   AND   ORCHARD   JUDGING  7 

Various  kinds  of  diseases  and  pests  attack  fruit  trees;  it  is  very  im- 
portant, therefore,  to  know  how  they  cause  injury  and  how  this  may 
affect  the  productiveness  of  the  tree.7 

PROCEDURE   IN  JUDGING  TREES 

In  order  to  judge  fruit  trees  intelligently,  it  is  necessary  to  under- 
stand the  relative  importance  of  each  of  the  divisions  of  the  score  card. 
The  score  card  serves  as  a  means  of  directing  this  knowledge  and 
should  be  first  mastered  from  the  standpoint  of  its  six  large  divisions 
and  their  relative  values.  Then  each  of  these  divisions  should  be 
studied  individually,  point  by  point. 

The  best  way  to  become  familiar  with  the  score  card  is  to  make 
use  of  it  in  scoring  a  number  of  trees.  To  get  the  most  out  of  the 
scoring,  it  is  necessary  not  only  to  have  an  ideal  picture  in  mind  but 
first  to  actually  see  a  real  tree,  as  perfect  as  can  be  found,  in  order 
to  train  the  eye  to  identif}^  and  measure  the  parts  and  impress  the 
whole  proceeding  upon  the  mind. 

A  group  of  four  trees  is  usually  selected  for  practice  work.  This 
is  called  a  class.  The  class  should  first  be  studied  as  a  whole,  and 
at  a  sufficient  distance  so  that  all  the  individual  trees  may  be  seen 
at  one  time.  In  doing  this,  it  is  best  to  go  completely  around  the 
trees  to  obtain  a  general  impression  of  their  relative  merits.  Too  often 
the  beginner  attempts  to  make  a  close-up  inspection  of  each  tree  and 
then  from  a  mass  of  details  tries  to  make  a  decision.  It  is  much  easier 
to  place  the  trees  from  their  general  appearance  and  condition  and 
then  to  examine  closely  the  details  in  order  to  confirm  or  reject  the 
decision  formed  by  the  first  impression. 

After  the  general  view  of  the  group  or  class  has  been  made,  the 
judge  should  begin  his  close-up  examination,  taking  one  point  at  a 
time  in  the  same  order  as  given  in  the  score  card.  Too  much  emphasis 
cannot  be  given  to  the  detailed  analysis  to  ascertain  whether  or  not 
the  eye  has  been  misled  in  the  first  observation  of  the  class. 

In  comparing  the  points  of  superiority  or  deficiency  of  two  trees, 
one  should  remember  that  while  the  importance  of  each  factor  is  pro- 
portional to  the  value  given  in  the  score  card,  a  greater  cut  than  is 
indicated  should  be  made  if  a  very  marked  deficiency  occurs. 

During  the  procedure  of  analyzing  the  trees,  mental  or  written 
notes  are  taken  and  when  all  the  evidence  has  been  secured,  a  final 
decision  is  made,  it  being  kept  in  mind  that  the  relative  placement  is 
the  important  objective  and  not  the  numerical  scores. 

7  Home,  W.  T.,  E.  O.  Essig,  and  W.  B.  Herms.  Plant  disease  and  pest  control. 
California  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Cir.  265:  1-69.     1925. 


8  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 

TREE    JUDGING    CONTESTS 

Judging  contests  stimulate  interest  in  and  present  opportunity  for 
acquiring  ability  in  judging.  The  trees  should  be  carefully  selected 
by  groups,  such  as  class  1 — four  bearing  pear  trees,  class  2 — four  non- 
bearing  peach  trees,  etc.  They  should  be  chosen  so  that  they  are 
located  close  together,  in  a  row  or  in  a  square  or  diamond  formation 
for  convenience  in  judging  and  giving  of  reasons.  When  trees  are 
being  selected  some  thought  should  be  given  to  the  various  points 
exhibited  by  each  tree  so  that  the  contest  will  be  educational  as  well 
as  competitive.  Very  close  or  too  obvious  placing  should  be  avoided. 
Three  classes  of  trees  are  usually  selected,  labelled  and  officially  placed 
by  the  judges  just  before  the  contest. 

A  judging  team  consists  of  three  members,  who  work  independently 
of  each  other.  The  contestants  are  divided  into  three  groups  so  that 
no  two  persons  of  the  same  team  are  together.  Each  contestant  wears 
an  identification  tag  bearing  a  number  by  which  he  is  known  through- 
out the  contest.  Printed  placement  cards  and  plain  memoranda  cards 
are  issued  to  each  contestant. 

Each  group  is  conducted  to  the  tree  class  to  be  judged,  the  trees 
are  pointed  out  and  the  age  and  variety  are  announced.  Usually 
twenty  minutes  are  allowed  for  judging  each  class,  a  five-minute 
warning  signal  being  given  before  time  is  up.  At  the  end  of  the 
time,  the  placement  cards  are  handed  in,  the  groups  are  taken  away 
from  the  trees,  and  are  allowed  a  brief  interval  for  reflection  and 
preparation  for  the  presentation  of  reasons. 

In  the  meantime,  the  judges,  recorders,  and  timers  for  each  class 
move  their  table  and  chairs  to  a  convenient  point  near  the  trees  and 
prepare  to  hear  each  contestant  as  he  comes  up  to  give  his  reasons 
(fig.  2).  The  recorders  begin  at  once  to  enter  grades  on  placements, 
according  to  the  scale  provided  (table  2).  This  procedure  is  carried 
out  simultaneously  with  each  of  the  three  groups. 

Giving  of  Reasons:  The  giving  of  reasons  orally  is  very  important 
in  a  contest,  from  25  to  40  per  cent  of  the  total  grade  being  allowed 
for  perfect  presentation.  This  part  of  the  contest  may  be  compared 
to  a  debate  in  which  the  contestants  are  arguing  and  demonstrating 
that  their  reasoning  is  sound  and  their  facts  correct.  Each  must 
state  why  in  his  opinion  one  tree  is  superior  to  another.  The  reasons, 
therefore,  should  be  comparative  and  not  descriptive  and  should  be 
forcefully  presented  in  logical  order.  For  this,  it  is  well  to  summarize 
the  arguments  under  the  leading  heads  and  in  the  same  order  given 


Circ.  309] 


FRUIT   TREE   AND   ORCHARD    JUDGING 


in  the  score  card.  The  placement  of  the  class  should  be  stated  first, 
and  then  the  main  reasons  why  the  first  tree  is  placed  over  the  second, 
followed  by  a  detailed  explanation  of  the  reasons.  In  like  manner 
reasons  should  be  stated  for  placing  the  second  tree  over  the  third  and 
the  third  over  the  fourth. 

All  reasons  should  be  specific  and  brief,  but  should  show  that  the 
contestant  has  analyzed  each  tree  carefully  and  completely.  New  or 
unusual   facts   and   data   should   be   constantly   sought.      The   word 


Fig.  2. — Contestant  giving  reasons  before  judges.     Judges,  timers,  and 
recorders  are  shown  at  the  table. 


"better"  should  never  be  used  unless  further  qualified.  Saying 
"better  framework"  alone  is  not  sufficient,  but  saying  "better  frame- 
work on  account  of  the  more  even  distribution  of  scaffold  limbs"  is 
good  form.  The  following  will  serve  as  a  suggestion  in  the  presen- 
tation of  reasons: 

"I  placed  this  class  of  bearing  apricot  trees  B,  C,  A,  D.  I  placed 
B  (pointing)  over  C  (pointing)  on  size,  framework,  and  health.  On 
size,  because  B  measures  two  inches  more  in  trunk  circumference,  and 
has  greater  height  and  spread  with  more  fruiting  area  than  C.  B 
has  a  more  desirable  framework,  because  the  primary  scaffold  branches 
do  not  arise  from  one  point  but  are  equally  distributed  up  and  down 
the  trunk    (demonstrate)    and  because  the  secondary  scaffold  limbs 


10  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT  STATION 

are  symmetrically  arranged  to  form  a  strong,  well  balanced  tree. 
Tree  B  is  also  in  a  more  perfect  state  of  health  than  C,  having  less 
sunburn  injury  (point  out)  on  the  branches." 

In  the  same  way  reasons  should  be  given  for  placing  C  over  A, 
and  A  over  D.  It  is  not  necessary  to  give  reasons  for  placing  the 
fourth  tree  last  unless  it  has  some  marked  deficiency  not  previously 
brought  out. 

The  contestant  may  be  of  the  opinion  that  the  placing  between 
two  trees  is  very  close  and  hinges  upon  one  point.  If  this  is  the  case 
it  is  well  to  recognize  in  the  reasons  the  superior  points  of  the  tree 
over  which  it  is  put.  It  may  be  expressed  in  this  manner :  ' '  Although 
A  has  larger  size  and  more  desirable  framework  than  B,  I  placed  B 
over  A  because  of  greater  prospects  for  fruit  this  year  and  because 
of  its  more  vigorous  and  healthy  condition." 

It  is  suggested  that  the  contestant  acquire  the  habit  of  demonstrat- 
ing the  points  brought  out  in  his  reasons  by  referring  to  the  trees. 
He  should,  therefore,  get  accustomed  to  talking  and  demonstrating  at 
the  same  time. 

Grading  the  Placings  and  Reasons:  As  mentioned  previously,  each 
contestant  is  graded  on  his  placement  and  reasons.  The  grade  on 
placement  is  determined  by  a  mathematical  table  which  gives  all  the 
possible  placings  together  with  the  corresponding  value  for  each. 
The  grade  on  reasons  is  determined  by  the  judges  who  mark  each 
contestant  on  the  basis  of  60  per  cent  for  subject  matter,  30  per  cent 
for  logic  and  force  in  presentation,  and  10  per  cent  on  bearing  and 
address. 

Table  2  gives  the  values  for  the  various  placings,  when  the  correct 
placing  is  A,  B,  C,  D. 

TABLE  2 
Table  of  Values  on  Placings 

A  B  C  D  —100  B  A  C  D  —85  C  A  B  D  —60  D  A  B  C  —30 

ABDC—  95  BADC  —80  C  A  D  B  —55  D  A  C  B  —25 

ADBC—  75  BCAD  —65  C  B  A  D  —40  D  B  A  C  —20 

ADCB—  50  BCDA  —35  C  B  D  A  —12  D  B  C  A  —  5 

ACBD—  90  BDAC  —45  C  D  A  B  —10  D  C  A  B  —  3 

ACDB—  70  BDCA  —15  CDBA—  7  DCBA— 0 


ClRC.  309]  FRUIT   TREE   AND   ORCHARD   JUDGING  11 


ORCHARD  JUDGING 

In  the  second  phase  of  judging  one  is  concerned  with  groups  of 
fruit  trees  or  orchards.  After  he  has  learned  by  practice  how  to 
judge  trees  it  becomes  comparatively  easy  to  apply  this  knowledge 
to  orchards.  One  quickly  learns  to  note  the  uniformity  or  lack  of 
uniformity  in  the  orchard  as  determined  by  the  ideal  tree  as  the  unit 
of  measure. 

There  are  new  factors,  however,  which  must  be  taken  into  con- 
sideration when  judging  orchards.  These  may  be  classified  as  (1) 
environment,  (2)  condition  of  the  trees,  and  (3)  cultural  practices 
used  by  the  grower.  By  a  careful  study  of  the  factors,  together  with 
practice  in  judging,  one  forms  a  mental  picture  of  an  ideal  orchard 
and  learns  to  compare  orchards  as  to  their  merits  or  deficiencies  in 
approach  to  this  ideal. 

The  use  of  this  method  of  analysis,  together  with  tree  and  orchard 
records,  is  helpful  also  in  estimating  the  commercial  value  of  a  par- 
ticular orchard.  With  these  factors  in  mind  the  prospective  buyer 
will  have  to  evaluate  in  detail  the  qualities  of  the  orchard,  and  after 
comparing  with  the  price  asked,  he  can  decide  for  himself  whether  it 
is  a  wise  investment. 

The  same  procedure  is  followed  in  learning  to  judge  orchards  as 
in  judging  trees.  The  score  card  must  be  mastered  first  in  all  its 
divisions  in  order  to  form  an  idea  of  the  relative  importance  of  each. 

The  accompanying  score  card  (Form  B)  has  been  used  for  the  last 
four  years  in  many  schools  in  California,  and  has  been  accepted  as  a 
satisfactory  form  for  use  in  orchard  judging. 

ORCHARD    ENVIRONMENT 

The  factors  listed  in  the  score  card  are  discussed  in  the  following 
paragraphs : 

Climate:  Climate  is  one  of  the  most  important  factors  to  consider 
in  judging  an  orchard  location.  Climate  has  been  defined  as  the 
average  condition  of  the  atmosphere,  with  respect  to  temperature, 
sunshine,  rainfall,  frost,  fog,  and  wind.  All  of  these  items  influence 
the  ability  of  trees  to  produce  fruit. 

It  is  obviously  difficult  to  discuss  these  influences  because  they  are 
so  complicated.  Each  district  is  distinctive  and  the  results  in  one  may 
not  be  compared  with  those  in  another  unless  it  is  known  from  prac- 
tical experience  how  climatic  differences  exert  an  influence  on 
orchards. 


12  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT  STATION 


ORCHARD  SCORE  CARD 


Factors  Values 

1.  Orchard  Environment: 

A.  Location 10 

1.  Climate — desirable  average  temperature,  sufficient  sunshine 

and  rainfall,  free  from  frosts,  fogs,  and  severe  winds. 

2.  Transportation — good  roads;  near  to  shipping  point. 

B.  Site 15 

1.  Water  supply — irrigation  water  supplied  by  well  or  ditch. 

2.  Slope  of  land — gradual  fall  to  allow  air  drainage  and  irriga- 

tion, no  swales  or  low  places. 

3.  Windbreaks — necessary  if  winds  are  severe. 

C.  Soil 15 

1.  Surface  soil — medium  loam  with  sufficient  organic  matter. 

2.  Sub-soil — deep,  well  drained,  and  retentive  of  moisture. 

2.  Condition  of  Trees: 

A.  Size — sufficient  for  age  and  species,  uniform  stand 5 

B.  Fruitfulness — (past  yields)  present  prospects  of  a  crop 10 

C.  Vigor — sufficient  for  age  and  species 10 

D.  Health — free  from  sunburn,  disease,  insects,  mechanical  injury, 

etc 15 

3.  Cultural  Practices: 

A.  Soil  Care 10 

1.  Cultivation — soil  in  good  tilth,  free  from  weeds. 

2.  Irrigation — sufficient  to  keep  soil  wet  to  a  depth  of  at  least 

six  feet. 

3.  Cover  crops — preferably  legumes  to  maintain  organic  matter 

and  nitrates. 

B.  Tree  Care 10 

1.  Planting  distance — to  provide  enough  space  for  spread  of 

trees  when  full  grown. 

2.  Pruning — framework  and  fruiting  area  well  formed,  trees 

open  to   light,   and  cuts  properly  made,   moderate   in 
amount  in  accord  with  vigor. 

3.  Spraying — adequate  program  for  pest  control. 

4.  Bracing — central  wire  brace  (usually  best  where  bracing  is 

necessary). 

5.  Repairing — trees  requiring  surgery  should  be  treated. 

6.  Sanitation — weeds  and    rubbish    should    be    removed    and 

rodents  destroyed. 

7.  Heating — number  and  kind  of  heaters  per  acre. 


Total 100 


Form  B 


ClRC.  309]  FRUIT   TREE   AND   ORCHARD   JUDGING  13 

Transportation:  The  success  of  a  commercial  orchard  may  be 
affected  by  the  distance  from  the  shipping  point,  character  of  roads, 
and  railroad  facilities.  Even  with  improved  roads  and  automobile 
trucks,  distance  from  the  shipping  point  or  cannery  is  a  very  im- 
portant consideration  in  determining  the  desirability  of  a  particular 
location. 

Water  Supply:  The  importance  of  water  in  connection  with  fruit 
growing  is  generally  appreciated.  Some  years  ago  an  annual  rainfall 
of  16  or  18  inches  was  thought  to  be  sufficient  for  deciduous  fruits 
growing  in  this  state,  but  experience  has  shown  that  most  bearing 
orchards  require  irrigation  in  order  to  maintain  a  supply  of  available 
moisture  in  the  soil  at  all  times. 

The  site  of  the  orchard,  therefore,  should  be  judged  with  reference 
to  availability  of  water  supply,  whether  by  gravity  or  by  pumping, 
its  reliability,  and  the  economy  with  which  it  may  be  applied.  If  the 
orchard  is  supplied  by  gravity  water,  inquiry  should  be  made  regard- 
ing the  amount,  regularity,  and  interval  between  deliveries.  If  the 
water  supply  comes  from  a  pump,  the  volume  of  discharge  and  depth 
of  well  should  be  ascertained,  and  compared  with  the  area  to  be 
irrigated. 

Slope  of  Land:  A  great  deal  of  importance  has  been  attached  to 
the  many  advantages  or  disadvantages  of  a  particular  exposure, 
especially  as  it  affects  temperature  conditions.  However,  in  Califor- 
nia, fruit  can  be  raised  successfully  on  almost  any  slope,  provided  it 
is  not  excessively  steep. 

Slight  elevation  above  adjoining  areas  is  desirable  in  order  to 
secure  sufficient  air  drainage,  which  will  allow  for  carrying  off  the 
cold  air  to  lower  levels,  and  thus  aid  in  preventing  damage  from 
frosts.  Perfectly  level  or  low  land  may  be  hazardous  because  of  the 
lack  of  air  drainage.  A  gentle  fall  is  important  also  with  respect  to 
the  application  of  water.  Anyone  who  has  irrigated  understands  the 
necessity  of  having  land  properly  graded  to  facilitate  the  flow  of 
water. 

Windbreaks :  The  relation  of  a  windbreak  to  an  orchard  has  been 
the  subject  of  considerable  study.  Advantages  claimed  for  a  wind- 
break in  one  district  may  become  disadvantages  in  another.  The 
question  is  closely  related  to  air  drainage.  A  windbreak  may  lessen 
the  force  of  a  wind  and  thus  prevent  breakage  of  the  trees;  a  wind- 
break may  also  check  the  gentle  flow  of  air  and  thus  form  a  "pocket" 
which  is  a  frost  hazard.  Air  movement  to  a  certain  extent  is  desirable, 
but  when  its  velocity  increases  to  a  certain  point  it  becomes  injurious. 
Its   efficiency,   therefore,   depends  upon  the   purpose,   location,   and 


14  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT  STATION 

character  of  the  windbreak  used.  Some  kinds  of  windbreaks  them- 
selves use  large  quantities  of  water  and  should  be  judged  accordingly. 
Soil:  The  soil  should  be  studied  very  thoroughly.  A  soil  auger 
or  tube  should  be  used  to  secure  samples  to  a  depth  of  at  least  six 
feet  in  a  number  of  places  in  the  orchard  so  as  to  determine  the  char- 
acter and  moisture  content  of  the  soil  and  subsoil.  The  surface  layer 
may  be  shallow  or  deep,  but  it  is  usually  more  fertile  than  the  layer 
beneath  it.  The  subsoil,  which  is  fully  as  important  as  the  surface 
soil,  may  be  near  or  far  from  the  surface  of  the  ground  and  may 
vary  from  a  gravel  to  an  impervious  hardpan.  It  controls  the  drain- 
age and  may  or  may  not  be  retentive  of  water. 

CONDITION   OF  TREES 

In  judging  the  condition  of  trees,  one  takes  into  consideration  the 
same  points  discussed  under  tree  judging  (page  2).  The  person  judg- 
ing should  go  through  the  entire  block,  measuring  the  size  of  a  number 
of  trees  selected  at  random  and  taking  note  of  their  uniformity,  vigor, 
fruitfulness,  and  health. 

CULTURAL    PRACTICES 

Cultural  practices  are  largely  determined  by  the  grower  himself. 
The  care  given  the  soil  and  trees  should  follow  approved  principles. 
On  account  of  a  number  of  conditions,  these  practices  vary  widely  in 
different  parts  of  the  state,  but  in  general  the  results  will  be  com- 
parable. 

Cultivation:  Cultivation  is  carried  out  for  the  purpose  of  conserv- 
ing moisture,  and  making  available  plant  nutrients  in  the  soil.  Clean 
cultivation  in  the  summer  is  the  commonly  accepted  practice,  although 
there  are  a  number  of  fruit  growers  who  are  using  permanent  cover 
crops  or  sod.  Clean  cultivation  is  practiced  to  prevent  weed  growth 
and  to  facilitate  irrigation.  Plowing  under  the  cover  crop  in  the 
spring,  followed  by  disking  is  the  common  procedure.  Subsequent 
cultivation  depends  upon  the  soil,  weed  growth,  and  system  of  irri- 
gation. 

Irrigation:  The  irrigation  practice  is  judged  on  the  basis  of  tree 
requirements,  source  of  water,  kind  of  soil,  and  method  of  application. 
The  practice  should  be  such  that  moisture  will  be  available  when  it 
is  needed  by  the  trees.  The  actual  method  of  applying  water  and 
the  amounts  used  should  be  adapted  to  the  conditions  in  each  orchard. 

Cover  Crops:  A  cover  crop  is  one  which  is  planted  late  in  the 
summer  or  autumn  to  be  grown  in  the  winter  and  early  spring  and 
plowed  under  for  the   improvement  of  the   physical  and   chemical 


ClRC.  309]  FRUIT   TREE   AND   ORCHARD    JUDGING  15 

properties  of  the  soil.  A  cover  crop  helps  to  maintain  organic 
material ;  and  if  a  leguminous  cover  crop  is  used,  the  nitrogen  supply 
is  increased  by  fixation.  Therefore,  the  planting  of  a  leguminous 
cover  crop  in  the  orchard  is  generally  a  valuable  practice  as  opposed 
to  the  use  of  no  cover  crop,  or  a  non-leguminous  one. 

Planting  Distance :  The  question  of  planting  distance  is  one  which 
depends  upon  the  character  and  fertility  of  the  soil,  water  supply, 
pruning  and  kind  of  trees.  Trees  of  naturally  large  growing  habit 
should  be  planted  farther  apart  than  small  trees,  to  insure  proper 
development,  to  prevent  shading-out  of  the  lower  fruiting  wood,  and 
to  facilitate  economical  orchard  management.  In  general,  it  may  be 
said  that  in  soil  which  is  shallow,  which  is  of  poor  water-holding 
capacity,  and  where  irrigation  water  is  not  plentiful,  the  planting  dis- 
tance should  be  greater  than  in  soil  which  is  deep  and  well  supplied 
with  moisture.  Too  close  planting  has  been  the  tendency  in  many 
districts. 

From  experiments  and  observations,  the  following  planting  dis- 
tances are  recommended  for  best  growth  and  yield  :8 

Planting  distance 
Species  for  orchard  trees 

(feet  apart) 

Almonds , 25  to  30 

Apples 30  to  35 

Apricots 24  to  35 

Cherries  (sweet) 26  to  30 

Peaches 20  to  30 

Pears 20  to  25 

Plums  (Japanese) 16  to  22 

Prunes  and  plums  (European) 22  to  26 

Walnuts 45  to  60 

Spraying:  The  spraying  program  is  important  in  the  proper  care 
of  the  trees.  This  varies  with  the  kind  of  orchard  and  the  pests  to 
be  combatted.  Inquiry  should  be  made  of  the  grower  regarding  these 
matters  and  the  judging  done  according  to  his  statements  and  appar- 
ent results. 

Bracing:  Most  bearing  fruit  trees  require  some  means  of  support- 
ing the  branches  to  prevent  their  breaking  under  heavy  loads  of  fruit. 
In  the  past,  propping  with  wooden  poles  has  been  the  common  prac- 
tice. In  recent  years,  the  central  wire  brace  has  come  into  rather 
wide  use.9 

s  Allen,  F.  W.  Planting  and  thinning  distances  for  deciduous  fruit  trees. 
California  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bui.  414:  26-28.     1926. 

9  Barnard,  L.  C.  Central  wire  bracing  for  fruit  trees.  California  Agr.  Exp. 
Sta.  Cir.  244:  1-10.     1922. 


16  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT  STATION 

Repairing:  Injuries  to  fruit  trees  are  so  common  that  most  people 
have  come  to  accept  them  and  ignore  the  danger  which  arises  from 
neglected  wounds.  Every  wound  may  become  the  point  of  entrance 
of  some  rot-forming  organism.  If  an  injured  spot  is  properly  treated 
and  cared  for,  it  will  heal  and  thus  prolong  the  life  and  productive- 
ness of  the  tree.  The  simplest  form  of  surgery  consists  in  removing 
all  dead  limbs  and  treating  the  wounds  and  all  other  breaks  in  the 
bark  with  antiseptic  and  water-proof  coverings.  A  more  complicated 
form  sometimes  necessary  in  case  of  old  wounds  consists  in  digging 
out  the  decayed  wood,  applying  an  antiseptic  material  to  the  fresh 
surface,  and  filling  in  the  cavity  with  cement  or  asphaltum.10 

8  ant  it  at  ion:  All  disease  or  insect  bearing  material  should  be  re- 
moved from  the  orchard.  Such  material  as  old  prunings,  cull  fruit, 
and  weeds  may  serve  to  harbor  pests  that  later  may  attack  the  trees 
or  fruit.  Litter  of  any  sort  should  be  looked  upon  with  disfavor. 
Proper  precautions  should  also  be  taken  against  gophers,  ground 
squirrels,  rabbits  and  other  rodents. 

Heating:  Orchard  heating  equipment  is  necessary  in  many  places 
as  an  insurance  against  loss  of  crops  from  frost.  A  sufficient  number 
of  heaters  should  be  on  hand,  supplemented  by  accessory  equipment 
for  determining  temperatures  and  taking  care  of  the  heating  oper- 
ation.11 

PROCEDURE   IN  JUDGING  ORCHARDS 

The  previous  discussion  has  been  given  in  order  to  clarify  the 
points  in  the  orchard  score  card.  Each  factor  should  be  fully  under- 
stood before  judging  is  begun.  At  first,  therefore,  two  or  three 
orchards  should  be  studied  and  scored  in  detail,  so  as  to  fix  the  rela- 
tive importance  of  each  item  in  the  mind.  For  convenience  in  judging, 
a  block  of  approximately  100  trees  is  used ;  they  may  be  in  a  square 
formation,  as  10  X  10  trees,  or  in  rectangular  form,  as  5  X  20  trees. 

General  information  such  as  age  of  orchard,  climatic  conditions, 
distance  from  shipping  point,  past  yields,  source  of  water,  and  cul- 
tural practices  must  be  obtained  from  the  owner  himself.  Then  the 
person  judging  should  carefully  and  systematically  go  through  the 
block  and  examine  its  condition  (fig.  3).  These  observations  should 
be  given  numerical  values  by  following  the  points  in  the  score  card. 

When  this  has  been  done  in  one  orchard  the  person  judging  goes 
to  the  next  orchard ;  it  is  necessary,  therefore,  for  him  to  keep  written 
and  mental  notes  on  each  orchard  until  all  the  orchards    (usually 

io  Collins,  J.  F.     Tree  surgery.     U.S.D.A.  Farmers'  Bui.  1178:   1-32.     1922. 
11  Schoonover,  W.  E.,  E.  W.  Hodgson,  and  F.  D.  Young.     Orchard  heating  in 
California.     California  Agr.  Exp.  Sta.  Bui.  398:  1-69.     1925. 


Circ.  309] 


FRUIT    TREE    AND    ORCHARD    JUDGING 


17 


three)  in  the  class  have  been  judged.  The  other  orchards  are  inspected 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  first.  Then  the  numerical  scores  are 
totaled  and  compared  with  the  mental  notations.  It  is  highly  desir- 
able to  go  over  the  orchards  again  if  possible  so  as  to  fix  the  respective 
conditions  more  firmly  in  mind  and  to  adjust  scores  on  factors  which 
may  be  close  or  doubtful.  After  these  inspections  of  the  orchards  and 
from  the  comparisons  made,  one  should  be  able  to  arrive  at  a  decision 
regarding  their  placement,  the  numerical  scores  being  used  only  as 
a  guide. 


Fig.  3. — Student  judges  examining  the  condition  of  soil  and  trees. 


ORCHARD    JUDGING    CONTESTS 

The  selection  of  the  orchards  for  a  contest  should  be  made  with 
the  idea  of  classing  those  which  are  nearly  enough  alike  to  make  a 
good  comparison,  yet  not  so  much  alike  as  to  be  too  easy  for  compe- 
tition. If  possible,  they  should  be  in  the  same  vicinity  to  minimize 
travel.  Each  class  should  consist  of  orchards  of  about  the  same  age 
and  variety,  but  differing  in  one  or  more  of  the  following  points : 
transportation  facilities,  site,  soil,  condition  of  trees,  and  cultural 
practices.  The  exact  block  of  trees  in  each  case  should  be  carefully 
chosen  so  as  to  have  all  the  conditions  comparable  with  the  other 
blocks  and  should  be  officially  placed  before  the  contest.  The  corner 
trees  of  the  block  should  be  marked  with  tags  or  signs  for  identifica- 
tion. 


18  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 

When  the  time  arrives  for  the  contest,  all  the  teams  are  assembled, 
given  instructions,  supplied  with  numbers,  memoranda  cards,  and 
placement  cards,  and  then  conducted  to  the  first  orchard.  They  are 
shown  the  block  to  be  judged,  the  general  information  is  announced 
and  the  boundaries  of  the  block  indicated.  It  has  been  found  desir- 
able that  the  first  visit  be  devoted  to  a  brief  general  survey  of  the 
situation  rather  than  a  detailed  inspection.  At  the  end  of  about  five 
minutes  the  contestants  should  have  obtained  a  general  idea  of  the 
block;  then  they  are  taken  to  the  second  and  third  orchards  where 
this  procedure  is  repeated.  This  gives  them  a  general  impression  of 
the  three  orchards,  which  serves  as  a  basis  for  later  comparisons. 

When  the  last  orchard  has  been  reached  a  longer  period  (from  20 
to  30  minutes)  is  allowed  for  a  thorough  inspection.  Soil  borings  are 
made  by  one  of  the  officials  and  the  samples  displayed  so  that  each 
contestant  may  make  an  examination.  Each  contestant,  working  inde- 
pendently, makes  his  inspection  and  notations  as  he  goes  over  the 
various  points.  Warning  is  given  five  minutes  before  the  time  limit 
is  up. 

At  the  end  of  the  time  allowed,  the  contestants  are  taken  back  to 
one  of  the  other  orchards  (this  second  visit  is  usually  in  reverse  order 
to  the  first  visit),  where  the  same  method  is  followed,  and  so  on  until 
all  the  blocks  have  been  gone  over  thoroughly.  By  this  time,  each 
contestant  should  have  arrived  at  a  decision  and  should  have  made 
sufficient  written  and  mental  memoranda  to  aid  him  in  giving  reasons 
later.  A  third  visit  to  the  orchards  may  be  made  if  the  majority  of 
the  contestants  so  desire.  Each  orchard  class  is  gone  over  in  this 
way,  care  being  taken  to  complete  the  judging  of  one  class  before 
another  is  begun,  in  order  that  the  contestants  may  not  be  confused. 

Giving  of  Reasons:  On  account  of  the  nature  of  orchard  judg- 
ing, it  has  been  found  desirable  to  have  the  reasons  given  somewhere 
other  than  at  the  orchards.  Generally  they  are  heard  at  some  place 
in  town,  such  as  at  the  school.  The  contestants  are  here  given  time 
after  the  judging  to  review  their  notes  and  to  prepare  their  presenta- 
tions. 

In  the  meantime,  the  recorder  has  collected  the  placement  cards 
and  has  recorded  the  grades.  The  judges  have  been  assigned  to  their 
places,  either  all  of  them  sitting  together  to  hear  each  contestant  or 
dividing  into  three  groups,  each  group  hearing  one  member  of  each 
team.  Whatever  the  method,  the  officials  should  be  instructed  regard- 
ing the  manner  of  scoring  the  reasons.  As  in  tree  judging,  60  per  cent 
is  allowed  for  subject  matter,  30  per  cent  for  logic  and  force,  and 
10  per  cent  for  bearing  and  address. 


CIRC.  309]  FRUIT   TREE   AND   ORCHARD   JUDGING  19 

Each  contestant  appears  in  private  before  the  judges  and  presents 
his  placings  and  reasons.  The  time  granted  for  this  varies  from  2  to 
5  minutes  per  contestant  for  each  orchard  class.  Reasons  are  given  on 
only  one  class  at  a  time. 

Grading  the  Placings:  The  grade  on  placings  is  determined  by 
reference  to  a  mathematical  scale  which  has  been  made  for  this 
purpose.  The  following  table  shows  the  placements  and  values  when 
three  orchards  are  used  and  the  correct  placing  is  A,  B,  C. 

A  B  C 100  B  C  A 20 

A  C  B 60  C  A  B 20 

B  A  C 60  C  B  A 0 


ORGANIZATION  OF  CONTESTS 

A  successful  tree  or  orchard  judging  contest  must  be  well  organ- 
ized, all  detailed  plans  having  been  made  in  advance.  There  must  be 
a  full  understanding  of  the  procedure  so  that  the  contest  will  run 
smoothly  in  every  way.  The  teams  should  be  acquainted  with  the 
plans  from  the  beginning  and  should  be  kept  informed  so  that  training 
for  the  contest  will  progress  in  a  uniform  manner. 

NOTICES    CONCERNING    CONTESTS 

When  it  has  been  decided  to  hold  a  contest,  notice  should  be  sent 
to  all  schools  concerned,  stating  the  time,  place,  and  general  rules. 
As  plans  are  further  perfected,  additional  information  should  be 
forwarded  to  include  a  description  of  the  classes,  score  card,  time 
allowed,  manner  of  grading,  trophies,  headquarters,  accommodations, 
and  all  other  points.  Entry  blanks  should  be  sent  out  to  be  returned 
a  few  days  before  the  contest.  A  sample  of  the  rules  to  be  sent  out 
before  the  contest  is  shown  in  form  C. 

OFFICIALS    NECESSARY    IN    CONDUCTING    THE    CONTEST 

The  superintendent  is  in  charge  of  all  matters  pertaining  to  the 
organization  of  the  contest.  He  plans  and  arranges  for  all  details 
before  and  during  the  contest.  Therefore,  he  must  be  thoroughly 
familiar  with  the  judging  and  procedure  in  a  contest,  and  must  be 
able  to  organize  men  and  boys  for  the  work.  If  necessary,  he  may 
have  an  assistant  to  help  him. 


20  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 


KULES  TO  GOVEEN  FRUIT  TREE  JUDGING  CONTEST 


1.  Three  classes  of  trees  will  be  judged — a  class  of  four  bearing  pear  trees,  a 

class  of  four  bearing  apricot  trees,  and  a  class  of  four  non-bearing  peach 

trees.     The  placements  will  be  determined  according  to  the  following  score 

card: 

Bearing        Non-bearing 
trees  trees 

1.  Size 15  15 

2.  Framework 15  20 

3.  Pruning 15  

4.  Vigor 15  25 

5.  Fruitfulness 20  

6.  Health 20  40 

Total 100  100 

2.  Contestants  will  be  graded  60  per  cent  for  correct  placement  and  40  per  cent 

for  presentation  of  reasons,  these  being  judged  according  to  the  following 
score : 

Subject  matter 60  per  cent 

Logic  and  force 30  per  cent 

Bearing  and  address 10  per  cent 

3.  Twenty  minutes  will  be  allowed  for  judging  each  class,  and  one  and  one-half 

minutes  per  contestant  for  presenting  reasons  in  each  class. 

4.  The  judges,  two  for  each  class,  will  be  men  familiar  with  the  deciduous  fruit 

industry. 

5.  A  perpetual  trophy  will  be  awarded  for  one  year  to  the  school  represented  by 

the  winning  team.     This  trophy  is  to  be  returned  to  the  place  of  contest  the 
succeeding  year  and  must  be  won  three  times  for  permanent  ownership. 

6.  There  will  be  three  permanent  cups  for  first,  second,  and  third  team  prize, 

respectively. 

7.  An  individual  award  will  be  presented  to  the  highest  individual  contestant. 

Form  C 


Circ.  309] 


FRUIT   TREE   AND   ORCHARD   JUDGING 


21 


The  judges  should  be  selected  with  a  great  deal  of  care,  their 
experience,  training,  interest,  fair-mindedness,  and  patience  all  being 
considered.  They  should  be  chosen  preferably  from  different  phases 
of  the  fruit  industry,  such  as  growers,  representatives  of  fruit  com- 
panies, farm  paper  writers,  farm  advisors,  horticultural  commission- 
ers, instructors  in  schools  or  colleges  of  agriculture.  The  number  of 
judges  may  be  three  or  six,  depending  upon  the  size  of  the  contest. 

The  recorders  or  secretaries  must  be  selected  for  their  extreme  care 
and  accuracy  with  figures.  For  safe  work,  there  should  be  two  for 
each  class,  both  to  be  equally  responsible. 

When  there  are  several  teams,  it  is  necessary  to  divide  the  con- 
testants into  three  groups  and  to  assign  leaders.  Group  leaders  should 
be  selected  for  their  ability  to  maintain  discipline  and  for  their 
interest  in  the  work. 


EQUIPMENT  NECESSARY  FOR  THE  CONTEST 

Grade  sheets  (Form  D)  for  each  class,  and  a  summary  sheet  (Form 
E)  should  be  prepared  with  proper  headings  to  aid  the  recorders  in 
making  their  entries.  Identification  tags  for  each  contestant  should 
be  made;  shipping  tags  numbered  on  both  sides  are  satisfactory  for 
this  purpose.  A  supply  of  printed  placement  cards  (Form  F),  and 
plain  memoranda  cards  should  be  procured  for  the  contestants, 
together  with  a  supply  of  scratch  pads  for  the  judges  and  recorders. 


GRADE  [SHEET 

Class  I — Bearing  Pear  Trees 
Correct  Placing  C-D-A-B 


Con- 
testant's 
number 

Placings 

=£ 

Grade 

on 
placings 

Grade 

on 
reasons 

Final 
grade 

Rank 
of  in- 
dividual 

Institution 

Total 

for 
team 

Rank 

of 
team 

1 

C-D-A-B 

60 

35 

95 

Jonesville 
High  School 

2 

C-D-A-B 

60 

36.8 

96.8 

3 

C-A-D-B 

H 

33 

87 

Total 

278.8 

278.8 

3 

Form  D 


22 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 


SUMMARY  OF  GRADES 


Con- 
testant's 
number 

Grade 
class 

I 

Grade 

class 

II 

Grade 
class 
III 

Total 

Rank 
of  in- 
dividual 

Institution 

Total 

for 
team 

Rank 

of 
team 

4 

97.4 

89 

90 

276.4 

1 

Brownsville 
High  School 

5 

85.2 

94-4 

90.8 

270.4 

6 

49 

88 

88.2 

225.2 

Total 

231.6 

271.4 

269.0 

772.0 

772 

4 

Fori 

n  E 

Headquarters  for  the  registration  of  contestants  should  be  pro- 
vided. If  necessary,  sleeping  and  eating  accommodations  must  be 
arranged  for.  A  place  to  hear  reasons  in  orchard  judging  should  be 
selected  in  advance.  The  necessary  tables,  chairs,  and  drinking  water 
should  be  available  if  the  contest  is  to  be  entirely  satisfactory. 

The  trophies  usually  consist  of  a  perpetual  or  permanent  team 
trophy  to  be  won  a  number  of  times  for  permanent  ownership,  trophies 
for  first,  second,  and  third  team  prizes,  and  medals  for  first,  second, 
and  third  highest  individual  contestants.  All  these  should  have  been 
properly  engraved  and  should  be  on  hand  at  the  time  of  the  contest. 
It  is  preferable  to  have  them  on  display  before  the  contest  to  stimulate 
interest  and  encourage  the  competitive  spirit. 


PLACEMENT  CARD 

UNIVERSITY 

OF 

CALIFORNIA-COLLEGE    OF    AGRICULTURE 

Class 

Placing 

1st 2d 3d 4th 

Date 

Name 

Number 

Form  F 


ClEC.  309]  FRUIT   TREE   AND   ORCHARD    JUDGING  23 


THE   SCHEDULE 

A  few  days  before  the  contest  the  superintendent  should  go  over 
the  ground  thoroughly  and  prepare  a  detailed  schedule.  This  should 
include  time  of  assembly,  time  at  which  the  judging  in  each  class 
begins  and  ends,  time  at  which  giving  reasons  begins  and  ends,  time 
for  transfer  of  groups  to  other  classes,  and  closing  time  (Form  G). 
Copies  of  the  schedule  should  be  given  to  group  leaders,  timers,  and 
judges. 

MEETINGS   OF   OFFICIALS 

The  superintendent  should  call  meetings  of  the  judges  and  other 
officials  before  the  contest.  The  judges  should  be  taken  to  the  trees 
or  orchards  and  allowed  plenty  of  time  to  place  the  classes  officially. 
The  judges  should  agree  unanimously  on  the  placement  in  all  the 
classes,  otherwise,  new  ones  should  be  chosen.  The  official  placement 
must  of  course  be  kept  confidential.  The  judges  must  be  instructed 
as  to  how  they  should  grade  the  contestants  on  reasons,  so  that  this 
phase  will  be  fair  and  uniform.  It  has  been  found  desirable  to  recom- 
mend to  the  judges  that  they  confer  on  grading  of  the  first  five  con- 
testants in  order  to  establish  a  scale,  and  to  grade  independently  there- 
after. In  order  to  have  the  contest  proceed  rapidly  the  judges  should 
be  urged  to  render  quick  decisions  on  reasons  and  not  to  talk  to  the 
contestants. 

The  recorders,  group  leaders,  and  timers  should  be  assembled  and 
their  duties  explained  to  them.  Group  leaders  must  understand  the 
system  of  dividing  the  contestants  into  groups  and  must  know  where 
and  when  to  move  their  groups.  The  recorders  must  be  thoroughly 
instructed  in  the  manner  of  entering  the  records  and  making  calcula- 
tions. The  entire  plan  must  be  explained  so  that  each  knows  his  duty 
beforehand. 

GROUPING   CONTESTANTS 

Notices  should  be  posted  near  the  judging  headquarters  to  inform 
the  contestants  of  the  time  and  place  of  assembly  and  system  of  group- 
ing (Form  H).  A  posted  list  of  the  names  with  corresponding 
numbers  and  the  numbers  in  each  group  will  facilitate  the  assembly 
(Form  I). 


24  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 


SCHEDULE  OF  FRUIT  TREE  JUDGING  CONTEST 


1:00  p.m. — Contestants  assemble  by  groups  and  receive  numbers. 

1:15  p.m. — All  groups  go  to  orchard.  (Group  1  to  Class  I,  Group  2  to  Class  II, 
Group  3  to  Class  III.) 

1:25  p.m. — Judging  begins  in  all  classes. 

1:45  p.m. — Judging  ends  in  all  classes.  Placement  cards  handed  to  group  leaders. 
Group  leaders  assemble  groups  and  move  at  least  50  yards  from 
trees. 

1:50  p.m. — Reasons  begin  on  respective  classes   (2  minutes  for  each  contestant). 

2:40  p.m. — Transfer  of  groups.  (Group  1  to  Class  III,  Group  2  to  Class  I,  Group 
3  to  Class  II.) 

2:45  p.m. — Judging  begins  in  all  classes. 

3:05  p.m. — Judging  ends  in  all  classes.  Placement  cards  handed  to  group  leaders. 
Group  leaders  assemble  groups  and  move  at  least  50  yards  from 
trees. 

3:10  p.m. — Reasons  begin  on  respective  classes   (2  minutes  for  each  contestant). 

4:00  p.m. — Transfer  of  groups.  (Group  1  to  Class  II,  Group  2  to  Class  III, 
Group  3  to  Class  I.) 

4:05  p.m. — Judging  begins  in  all  classes. 

4:25  p.m. — Judging  ends  in  all  classes.  Placement  cards  handed  to  group  leaders. 
Group  leaders  assemble  groups  and  move  at  least  50  yards  from 
trees. 

4:30  p.m. — Reasons  begin  on  respective  classes   (2  minutes  for  each  contestant). 

5:20  p.m. — End  of  contest.  Contestants  dismissed  after  giving  reasons  on  last 
class. 

5:30  p.m. — Recorders  summarize  results. 
Form  G 


CIRC.  309]  FRUIT    TREE   AND    ORCHARD    JUDGING  25 


FRUIT   TREE  JUDGING  CONTEST 


Instructions  to  Contestants 


1.  You  will  be  known  throughout  the  contest  by  your  numbers  which  have  been 

assigned. 

2.  You  will  be  formed  into  groups  1,  2,  and  3  and  will  be  expected  to  remain 

with  your  group  at  all  times  under  the  supervision  of  a  group  leader. 

3.  Groups  will  be  formed  in  numerical  order  promptly  at  1:00  p.m.     Your  number 
will  be  handed  you  at  that  time. 

4.  Each  group  will  be  conducted  by  the  group  leader  to  the  class  of  trees  to  be 

judged  (Group  1  to  Class  I,  Group  2  to  Class  II,  and  Group  3  to  Class  III). 

5.  The  trees  in  each  class  (A,  B,  C,  D)  have  been  selected  and  officially  placed. 

You  will  be  allowed  20  minutes  to  place  each  class  of  trees. 

6.  When  time  is  called,  you  will  hand  your  placement  cards  to  your  group  leader 

immediately.     Use  the  printed  placement  cards  and  fill- out  very  carefully. 

7.  Memoranda  for  your  own  information  and  for  assistance  in  giving  reasons 

may  be  made  on  the  plain  cards  which  will  be  given  you.     No  other  cards 
or  sheets  will  be  permitted. 

8.  You  will  be  allowed  one  and  one-half  minutes  to  give  reasons  at  each  class  of 

trees. 

9.  When  one  class  of  trees  has  been  judged  and  the  reasons  have  been  given  by 

members  of  each  group,  your  group  will  proceed  to  the  next  class  of  trees. 

10.  In  all  maneuvering  maintain  your  numerical  position  in  line.     Move  promptly 

when  your  number  is  called  and  return  to  your  proper  place  in  line  after 
giving  your  reasons. 

11.  Address  any  questions  to  your  group  leader. 


Form  H 


26 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT  STATION 


FKUIT  TREE  JUDGING  CONTEST 


Contestants  will  be  known  by  numbers  which  will  be  worn  during  the  contest. 
Three  groups  will  be  formed  as  follows: 


Group  1 
/,  4,  7,  10,  13,  16 
19,  22,  25,  28,  etc. 


Group  2 

2,  5,  8,  11,  U 
17,  20,  23,  26,  etc. 


Group  3 

3,  6,  9,  12,  15,  18 
21,  24,  27,  30,  etc. 


Contestants'  names  and  numbers  appear  below: 


No. 

Name 

High  school 

1 

Smith,  Howard 

Jonesville 

2 

O'Hara,  George 

3 

Edwards,  Harry 

4 

Hammond,  Morris 

Brownsville 

5 

Simmons,  Arthur 

6 

Larsen,  Oscar 

7 

Hutchinson,  Vernon 

Lawrence 

8 

Johnson,  William 

9 

Menendez,  Alfonso 

10 

Williamson,  Jack 

11 

etc. 

Form  I 


ClRC.  309]  FRUIT   TREE   AND   ORCHARD   JUDGING  27 


RECORDING   THE   GRADES 

The  recorders  must  convert  the  grades  on  placements  and  reasons, 
which  are  on  the  basis  of  100  points  each,  to  the  basis  decided  upon 
for  the  contest.  For  example,  if  a  60-40  basis  is  to  be  used,  the  place- 
ment value  is  multiplied  by  0.6  and  the  judges'  average  by  0.4.  The 
total  on  placing  and  reasons  is  determined  and  entered  on  the  grade 
sheets  at  once,  and  the  totals  of  contestants  of  the  same  team  added  as 
soon  as  possible  while  the  contest  is  proceeding.  This  system  allows 
for  completing  the  records  soon  after  the  last  contestant  has  finished 
giving  reasons.  The  totals  for  each  class  are  entered  on  the  summary 
sheet ;  these  figures  show  the  final  ranking  of  the  teams  and  individuals 
(see  Forms  D  and  E).  All  calculations  must  be  checked  as  entered 
and  then  again  before  any  announcements  or  awards  are  made. 


ANNOUNCEMENT  OF    RESULTS 

The  final  ranking  of  teams  should  be  kept  confidential  until  the 
official  awarding  of  the  prizes.  A  summary  of  the  standing  of  the 
three  highest  teams  and  three  highest  individuals  should  be  prepared 
for  the  one  who  is  to  make  the  awards.  The  trophies  should  be  identi- 
fied in  like  manner  with  the  name  of  the  winning  team  or  individual 
attached,  and  should  be  in  their  proper  place  for  the  awarding. 


